Hands Up United has launched a new initiative aiming to empower young people in Ferguson, Mo., and the Greater St. Louis area with skills they can use to strengthen themselves professionally and strengthen their communities, too, combining tech and activism.

With his ratings smash in Empire, The Root caught up with the actor to find out why he returned to the small screen, what he thinks of his character and how it feels to work with Taraji P. Henson again.